"Nothing," said Fleda; but she made her escape out of the room the next instant.
"Mamma," said Edith, "what ails Fleda?"
"I don't know, my love," said Mrs. Evelyn. "Nothing, I hope."
"There does, though," said Edith, decidedly.
"Come here, Edith," said Constance, "and don't meddle with matters above your comprehension. Miss Ringgan has probably hurt her hand with throwing stones."
"Hurt her hand!" said Edith. But she was taken possession of by her eldest sister.
"That is a lovely girl, Mr. Carleton," said Mrs. Evelyn, with an indescribable look outwardly benign, but beneath that most keen in its scrutiny.
He bowed rather abstractedly.
"She will make a charming little farmer's wife don't you think so?"
"Is that her lot, Mrs. Evelyn?" he said, with a somewhat incredulous smile.